Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/468

442 442 RISING IN THE ALPUX ARRAS. PART II. Commrmo- rative bal- lad:,. concerned in the insurrection, it was only on the alternative of baptism or exile, engaging at the same time to provide conveyance for such as chose to leave the country, on the payment of ten doblas of gold a head.^^ These engagements were punctually fulfilled The Moorish emigrants were transported in public galleys from Estepona to the Barbary coast. The number, however, was probably small ; by far the greater part being obliged, however reluctantly, from want of funds, to remain and be baptized. " They would never have stayed," says Bleda, " if they could have mustered the ten doblas of gold ; a circumstance," continues that charitable writer, " which shows with what levity they received bap- tism, and for what paltry considerations they could be guilty of such sacrilegious hypocrisy ! " ^^ But, although every spark of insurrection was thus effectually extinguished, it was long, very long, before the Spanish nation could recover from the blow, or forget the sad story of its disaster in the Red Sierra. It became the theme, not only of chronicle, but of song ; the note of sorrow was pro- longed in many a plaintive romance, and the names of Aguilar and his unfortunate companions were embalmed in that beautiful minstrelsy, scarcely less imperishable, and far more touching, than the state- '^ Bleda, Coronica, lib. 5, cap. 26,27. — Robles, Vida de Xime- nez, cap. 16. — Bernaldez, Reyes Catolicos, MS., cap. 165. — Ma- riana, Hist, de Espai7a, lib. 27, cap. 5. — Mavmol, Rcbclion de Moris- cos, lib. 1, cap. 28. 2^ Coronica, lib. 5, cap. 27. The Curate of Los Palacios dis- poses of the Moors rather summa- rily ; " The Christians stripped them, gave them a free passage, and sent them to the devil ! " Reyes Catolicos, cap. 165.